Mutual trust must for treaties like on Indus water to work, says India

The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty today cropped up in the current hostile Indo-Pak discourse with India making it clear that “mutual trust and cooperation” was important for such a treaty to work.

The 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty on Thursday cropped up in the current hostile Indo-Pak discourse with India making it clear that “mutual trust and cooperation” was important for such a treaty to work.

MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on “goodwill”. (File photo)

The assertion came amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the aftermath of audacious Uri terror attack earlier this week.

“For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair,” foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries.

He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on “goodwill”.

Pressed further if India will scrap the Treaty, he refused to elaborate and only noted that in diplomacy everything was not spelled out and that he has not said that the treaty was not working.

Swarup also noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries.